The trade gap between Tajikistan's exports and imports significantly widened in 2024. According to the Agency on Statistics of Tajikistan, the country’s total foreign trade turnover for the first 11 months of the year amounted to over $7.9 billion, a 17.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023, reports Asiaplus.tj.
From January to November this year, Tajikistan exported goods and products worth over $1.7 billion, while imports totaled more than $6.2 billion.
As a result, the trade balance was negative, amounting to over $4.5 billion. Imports exceeded exports by a factor of 3.6. During the same period in 2023, imports were 2.4 times higher than exports.
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Mineral products (cement, ores and concentrates, coal, electricity) accounted for the largest share of exports (approximately 29%), consisting mainly of raw materials. Textiles, including cotton fiber and related products, made up about 15%.
Imports were dominated by petroleum products (12.2%), machinery and equipment (11.5%), base metals and related products (9.3%), and notably, precious metals (around 6%).
The republic imported precious metals in May, when global gold prices reached nearly $2,400 per troy ounce. In February, however, when gold prices were just over $2,000 per ounce, Tajikistan exported precious metals worth nearly $300 million.
Over the first 11 months of this year, the country engaged in trade relations with 117 nations worldwide. Its primary trade partners were Russia (approximately $1.8 billion), China (over $1.7 billion), and Kazakhstan (nearly $1.2 billion).
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 27, 2024